[en] | Ein Samiya

Ein Samiya, also known as Ain Samia (Arabic: عين سامية, meaning “the lofty spring”),[2] was a Palestinian village in Area C of the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, on the eastern plains of the village of Kafr Malik.[3]

Ein Samiya
Arabic transcription(s)
 • Arabicعين سامية
 • LatinEin Samiya (unofficial)

Ein Samiya

Ein Samiya
Ein Samiya
Location of Ein Samiya within Palestine
Coordinates: 31°59′21″N 35°20′00″E / 31.98917°N 35.33333°E / 31.98917; 35.33333
Palestine grid181/156
StateState of Palestine
GovernorateRamallah and al-Bireh
Elevation

[1]
430 m (1,410 ft)
Population

 • Total0−300
Name meaning“the lofty spring[2]

Due to its large water spring, considered to be the strongest and purest in the region, the Ein Samiya valley is an important archaeological area containing the remains of settlements dating back to the ancient Bronze Age/Canaanite era, as well as Roman and Islamic periods. In modern times, Ein Samiya’s spring water is the main local ingredient of Taybeh beer, Palestine’s first local beer.[4][5]

In May 2023, the village was forcibly evacuated, having been home to 178 people.[6] Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Yvonne Helle, noted that: “These families are not leaving by choice; the Israeli authorities have repeatedly demolished homes and other structures they own and have threatened to destroy their only school. At the same time, land available for the grazing of livestock has decreased due to settlement expansion and both children and adults have been subjected to settler violence… We are witnessing the tragic consequences of longstanding Israeli practices and settler violence.”[7][6]

The persistent harassment of the Palestinian villagers, leading to their evacuation in 2023, is considered to be part of the Israeli expropriation of Palestinian springs in the West Bank.[6]

Location

The town is located on the eastern slopes of the Ramallah mountains, and the town’s territory reaches Al-Auja in the Jordan Valley in the east of the West Bank.[8]

Economy

Ein Samiya is a prominent water spring, renowned for being the strongest and purest in the region. It supplies water to the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh. Historically, extensive networks of water channels were constructed around it. The village serves as the food basket of the town of Kafr Malik, where grains, thyme, citrus fruits, and vegetables are grown.[3]

Population

Most of the population is from the Bedouin Ka’abneh (Arabic: الكعابنة) clan, primarily employed in the government and agriculture sectors.[9][10][11][12]

History and archaeology

Dating back more than 7,000 years, Ein Samiya contains what is considered one of the oldest historical ruins in the world. It also includes more than 150 rock-carved Roman tombs and related tunnels. Numerous archaeological expeditions took place in 1941-42 and in 1963.[13][14]

The area includes many historical symbols that indicate the cultural diversity in the place, and the site of “Tel Al-Marzbanah” north of Ein Samia is one of the most prominent archaeological sites in it, and it is a small high site that extends from north to south. The origin of the name goes back to the Persian language, as Marzipan means minister. The ‘Ain Samiya goblet was found here.[13][14]

Sherds, dating to the Roman,[1] Byzantine[1][15] and Byzantine/Umayyad[1] eras have been found here. A column dating from year 557 in the Byzantine era, mentioning Justinian I and bishop Eustochius, have been found here.[16][17][18]

Denys Pringle, citing information from Ronnie Ellenblum, writes in 1997 that there are buildings at ‘Ain Samiya (grid: 1817/1550), that could date to the Crusader era.[19]

Ottoman era

The village is not mentioned in the first Ottoman census, in 1525-1526 CE (AH 932), but is mentioned (taxed) in the 1538-1539 (949) census.[20] In the 1596 census, the village had a population was 4 households, all Muslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 33,3% on various agricultural products, such as wheat (400 akçe), barley (560), olive trees (120), in addition to “occasional revenues” (80) and goats and bee hives (40); a total of 1,200 akçe.[21] Sherds, dating from the early Ottoman ra have also been found here.[1]

In 1838, es-Samieh was noted as a Muslim village in the District of Beni Salim; located east of Jerusalem.[22]

In 1870, Victor Guérin described the ruins there: “The ruin is close to the ‘Ain el Samieh. This spring flows under a chamber with circular vaulting and built of large blocks : near it lie several fragments of columns in stone and capitals imitating the Doric style. To the north and above the spring I remarked the ruins of a considerable building, intended perhaps to protect it, and constructed of gigantic blocks rudely hewn. On the lower slopes of the mountain a great many grottoes have been cut in the rock”.[23] He also noted that the fields were cultivated with lentils, beans and wheat by the fellahin from Kafr Malik. At the time of sowing and harvesting, several of the caves at Ein Samiya served as temporary refuge for these families.[24]

In 1882, the PEF‘s Survey of Western Palestine described Khurbet Samieh: “Ruined village, with a tower and springs ; appears to have been inhabited within the present century. The ruins occur close to ‘Ain Samieh as marked on the map. There are remains of two mills, and the ruins of foundations, walls and caves, cover a large area. A copious spring issues on the north-west side of the valley from a strongly-built wall forming a tank. A fragment of a column and some drafted stones are built into this wall”.[25]

  • ‘Ain Samiya goblet, from Middle Bronze Age I (2300-2000 BC)
  • A flat rendering of the scenes depicted on the Ain Samiya Goblet
  • Kafr Malik and Ein Samiya in the 1880s
  • Kafr Malik and Ein Samiya in the 1940s
  • Oasis of Ein Samia – panoramio, 2010
  • Cultivated fields at Ein Samiya, 2010
  • Oasis of Ein Samiya, 2010
  • School in Ein Samiya, 2 May, 2023
  • Evacuation of Ein Samiya, 25 May, 2023
  • Ein Samiya after evacuation, 25 May, 2023

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Finkelstein et al., 1997, p. 734
  2. ^ a b Palmer, 1881, p. 251
  3. ^ a b ““عين سامية”.. مياه وتاريخ في مواجهة الاستيطان”. Anadolu Ajansı (in Arabic). 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  4. ^ “Palestinian beer: Taybeh on tap”. The Jerusalem Post. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  5. ^ Meneley, Anne (Winter 2014). “Resistance Is Fertile!”. Gastronomica. 14 (4). University of California Press: 69–78. doi:10.1525/gfc.2014.14.4.69. ISSN 1529-3262. JSTOR 10.1525/gfc.2014.14.4.69.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  6. ^ a b c “Palestinian community forced to evacuate Ein Samia – UNOCHA”. The Jerusalem Post. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  7. ^ “Occupied Palestinian territory – Palestinian community compelled to relocate amid Israeli settlement practices” (Press release). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  8. ^ ““عين سامية”.. مياه وتاريخ في مواجهة الاستيطان”. Anadolu Ajansı (in Arabic). 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  9. ^ Hass, Amira (2022-07-12). “How to Chase Palestinians Off Their Land – Israel News”. Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  10. ^ Wattan News. “بسبب اعتداءات المستوطنين.. أهالي “عين سامية” يهجرون المكان تباعاً”. وكالة وطن للأنباء (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  11. ^ “بلدة “عين سامية”.. حلقة جديدة في مسلسل تهجير الفلسطينين”. Asharq (in Arabic). 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  12. ^ موسى, خليل (2023-05-27). ““عين سامية” الفلسطينية ذات الينابيع باتت جحيما”. اندبندنت عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  13. ^ a b Shantur, Bakizah; Labadi, Y. (1971). “Tomb 204 at ‘Ain-Samiya”. Israel Exploration Journal. 21 (2/3). Israel Exploration Society: 73–77. ISSN 0021-2059. JSTOR 27925264. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  14. ^ a b Yeivin, Z. (1971). “A Silver Cup from Tomb 204a at ‘Ain-Samiya”. Israel Exploration Journal. 21 (2/3). Israel Exploration Society: 78–81. ISSN 0021-2059. JSTOR 27925265. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  15. ^ Dauphin, 1998, p. 852
  16. ^ Macalister, 1907, p. 236
  17. ^ Abel, 1907, pp. 275–276
  18. ^ Tsafrir et al, 1994, p. 221
  19. ^ Pringle, 1997, p. 112
  20. ^ Toledano, 1984, p. 298 has Samiya at location 31°59′35″N 35°19′10″E.
  21. ^ Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 113
  22. ^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p. 125
  23. ^ Guérin, 1874, p. 211, as translated in Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p. 394
  24. ^ Guérin, 1874, pages 211-212.
  25. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p. 394

Bibliography

Source: en.wikipedia.org